FREE Anny Blatt and Bouton d'Or Patterns

Our good friends at Anny Blatt/Bouton d'Or are allowing us to offer two of their popular patterns FREE on Yarnmarket.com. (Thank you, Jean-Christophe!)

The free Anny Blatt pattern is an absolutely gorgeous open weave tunic, the Divine Linois Tunic. It's created with Divine yarn, and is in women's sizes 4 to 18.

The free Bouton d'Or pattern is the Baby Blatt Wraparound Top in Baby Blatt yarn. It's sized for 0 to 9 months.

Be sure to visit Yarnmarket.com to see these -- and many more -- free patterns!

The October Bulletin is here!

Our latest issue has just been released. Be sure to subscribe online so you'll receive it every month.

In it we feature new yarns from Noro, Knit One Crochet Too, Lang & Indie Dyer plus new colors from Debbie Bliss, South West, Filatura Di Crosa, Crystal Palace & Cherry Tree Hill.

We also have fantastic ideas to help you keep up with the trends of chunky knits, lacy designs & great colors for the fall & winter. And as always, we have added the new projects you crave to give your wardrobe extra pizzazz plus terrific new books, patterns & magazines to inspire you.

Be sure to subscribe so you'll receive each month's newsletter, jam-packed with helpful information about our newest yarns and patterns plus our monthly bulletin.

Nice is...ummmm...nice.

After our stay in Avignon (plus side trips to abbeys and churches and the Pont du Gard), Alex and I drove to Nice. And, best of all, I instructed him to make a wrong turn only once...but the early turn-off provided me with a good perspective on where we actually were so I could more easily figure out how to get us where we wanted to be without taking us someplace else beforehand.

I'd been on a very quick trip to Nice a few years ago, for a business meeting, so I had a bit of an advantage.

Alex and I don't usually go to beach towns because I get sunstroke if I so much as look out a window, so this was a real treat for us. We weren't staying there long -- about 36 hours -- so we were pretty rushed for time. Our trip back to the US was to begin at 6:20 a.m. which meant we had one day to see things, then get to bed really early so we could be up at 4:00 a.m. to hurry to the airport.

Still, we managed to check out the Anny Blatt store window to see what they were selling on The Riviera, and then we took one of those bus tours of the town.

Boy, if I ever get really rich...like when David Bowie finally realizes that he can have me if he's willing to leave Iman...I'm going to move to the south of France. I picked up some real estate brochures and found a lovely romantic hideaway for just over 2 million Euros. I'm pretty sure he'd like it.

David Bowie is interested in Templars and Saracens and Gnosticism so he'd appreciate living in the area so steeped in history related to those topics. Don't you think so? Then, he could invite his friends, like Eileen Pagels, to come to see us and we'd talk all about the good old days of medieval religious wars and torture and treachery...and, now that I think of it, maybe the good old days weren't so good after all.

But then I could go shopping at the Anny Blatt store near the Promenade des Anglais and knit him some nice sweaters to wear. And I'd knit some for Alex, too, because I can't imagine moving to Nice and not taking him with me. I'd just tell David he's our electrician, navigator and tax filer.

Sur le pont d'Avignon, l'on y danse...avec Anny Blatt

That 15th century children's song is still sung today. "On the bridge of Avignon, we all dance, we all dance..." The bridge is no longer in use because part of it was destroyed many years ago, but it's still one of the highlights of the beautiful city of Avignon.

After our visits in Paris, Alex and I boarded the famous TGV train for Avignon in the south of France. The TGV goes so fast that you get dizzy staring out the window. The darned thing can get up to 357 MILES PER HOUR, but we cruised at the snail's pace of only 200 MPH. Several times, Alex tried to capture a photo when another train whizzed by us, but it was very difficult. He didn't have time to push the camera button before train had sped away. Isn't that amazing?

When we got to Avignon we rented a car so we'd be able to drive to the Anny Blatt/Bouton d'Or factory in a village outside the city. Our friend, Jean-Christophe had arranged for us to meet with Brigette and Patrick Testaniere, the CEO of Anny Blatt. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to see the factory because it produces some of the finest yarns in the world. From a little village in the South of France, Anny Blatt/Bouton d'Or acquires high-quality fibres from throughout the world, manufactures absolutely stunning yarns, creates sophisticated patterns and markets to quality-conscious knitters everywhere. It was a real honor to be welcomed by them to their facility.

Well...if we found it.

WARNING TO ALL: If you're going to rely on Google Maps to get you someplace in another country, be sure to print out not only the instructions, but also the actual map. I was armed only with instructions and once they went awry, I was toast. (Several years ago when we divided marital responsibilities I somehow got stuck with electrician, navigator and filer of taxes. To this day, I don't know how I ended up with the really crappy jobs that could result in electrocution, endless wandering, or prison.)

Anyway, I was responsible for getting us from the south end of Avignon to a village north of the city. And I really screwed up. Once I realized I was completely lost because I couldn't find D225 (which Google claims is somewhere near A7 but I really think this is a Google gag they like to play on unsuspecting travelers) I had to improvise using just the little bit of information I could make out in the written instructions. They told me to go 30 km on A7, but because I couldn't find A7 I chose to send Alex along N7 which eventually somehow (miraculously) connected to A7...30 km later.

We were terribly lost and were late for our appointment and, yes, we tried to call but the phone number we had was missing its last digit. Alex didn't say anything...not a word...for miles and miles...not a single, solitary word. And I knew he was really annoyed that we were going to be late for our meeting. He doesn't like to be late and I don't like to be navigating in foreign territory without a map. So you can imagine how pleasant the drive was.

When we got to the village, now following the Google instructions that were getting finer and finer (go 300 meters, turn left, go 20 meters, turn right...) we couldn't find the factory. We made several attempts going up and down the streets, following the instructions, before we realized they were not to the address we were seeking! (Not my fault, I swear. Alex was responsible for pulling the direction from Google. He gave them to me. Blame him! Blame him!)

Again, the God of GPS smiled on us because out of desperation I had Alex drive us to the center of town and then I intuitively sent him where I thought the factory "ought" to be. Sure enough, there it was! Despite my screw-up getting to the right highway, Alex says I'm like a homing pigeon because I always end up finding my way...eventually.

The factory was right there on one of the main streets of the village and -- best of all -- it was surrounded by pussycats. I got some soothing pussycat pats in before we entered the facility.

Brigette, our hostess, and Patrick didn't seem to be offended at all when we showed up an hour and a half later than planned. We showed them our instructions and the telephone number we had and they laughed that both were incorrect. I'll bet they were thinking, "Dopey Americans." And they were right!

Accompanied by the sweet dog who lives at the factory, they took us on a long and interesting tour of their facility. Wow! What a place! We saw the wool roving as it arrives...the carding machines...spinning in action. I thought part of the process was really fascinating. The yarn gets spun into plies that are then spun into the gorgeous yarns that Anny Blatt/Bouton d'Or is famous for.

They had the softest angora, some lovely linen, and sheep's wool that traveled all the way from Australia and South Africa.

Brigette and Patrick showed us the dying equipment and explained the dying process to us. They had some lovely organic dyes they're now using, too. We couldn't believe how intense the pigments were and how little dye is used for a really big batch of yarn.

Luckily, one of the ladies was in the process of spinning yarn -- several skeins at a time -- while we were there so we got to see how it was made into the final product, labeled and put into the box. The boxes are so nicely packed with tissue paper. Everything seemed so luxurious...and French.

When we finished the tour, still accompanied by the dog, we went to the building that houses the factory store. Outside there were so many birds and critters that Alex asked where they kept the corporate cow. "Ou est votre vache?" he enquired. I suspect they thought we were insane, and didn't know it was a Monty Python-esque joke based on the Spamalot line, "Cherchez la vache." Sometimes Alex and I make obscure references to things that only we know we're talking about. The rest of the world thinks we're nuts.

The factory store was heaven! They had all sorts of samples on sale, and special deals on lots of their gorgeous yarns. I controlled myself, though, because this was before the Euro was kind enough to fall to below $1.40.

We stayed at the factory for a long time, learning all about the yarns, watching the process and taking photos. (Check out the original door to the factory. It was started in 1817!) We saw how everything operates -- from the arrival of the fibers to the cleansing of water used in the manufacturing process to ensure that don't pollute the environment. The trip was very informative and a lot of fun.

If you're ever lucky enough to visit the Anny Blatt factory outside of Avignon, make sure you've got the right address and get yourself a really good map of the area. Or, better yet, hire a chauffeur and don't make your spouse be the navigator because nobody can afford a divorce lawyer these days.

Many thanks to Jean-Christophe for setting up the meetings and to Brigette and Patrick for kindly showing us their facility.

Our Visit to Anny Blatt/Bouton D'Or

When our good friend Jean-Christophe at Anny Blatt learned of our trip to France, he was kind enough to set up meetings for us at the store in Paris and the factory in Avignon. Wasn't that nice? He even sent me some gorgeous Anny Blatt sweaters to wear on the trip! (That reminds me, I have to return them. He's probably got a trunk show that missing a couple of important samples.)

We took the train to one of the more elegant parts of Paris -- as if there are any less elegant parts!-- and we found our way to the shop. There, we were greeted by Madame Fabienne Gosse and one of her staff. With Alex's broken French and my almost non-existent French we managed to have a delightful conversation about which of the yarns are most popular, which colors do well, and which patterns are a big hit this season.

The Anny Blatt and Bouton d'Or patterns are all very sophisticated, and fairly complicated, so they appeal to the experienced knitter with exquisite taste.

Madame Gosse told us she recently hosted a group knitting trip to Russia and is planning one to the US. She's really active with her carriage trade clientele and regularly holds events at one of the nearby hotels. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll happen to be in Paris someday when she's having one. Of course, the other ladies will be chatting away happily in French and I'll be sitting there looking like a deer in the headlights while catching only every third or fourth word they utter.

I've promised Alex I'll contact the local language school so I can improve my skills. The odd thing is that Alex has a fairly extensive vocabulary, but I'm better with pronunciation and sentence structure. But I won't speak it. He's brave enough to cobble together sentences while I just stand there like a dope whispering that "billet" is pronounced "biyay" and "merci" isn't pronounced like "mercy" but some very difficult way that I couldn't even begin to convey in writing. If you've ever heard Steve Martin's jokes about French, you'll understand.

MARTIN: That man is choking! Oh, wait...no he isn't. He's speaking French.

If we could do a Vulcan mind meld with the little bit of information each of us knows, plus Alex's bravado, we might have one single individual who could actually communicate.

Anyway, we had a really nice visit with Madame Gosse who spent quite a bit of time with us and then took us across the street to Tiboodoo, the store that sells ready-knit Anny Blatt and Bouton d'Or patterns. Boy, were the clothes ever cute! We really love the European children's wear because it's actually children's wear rather than miniaturized adult clothing. Maybe I'm turning into an old geezer, but I'd rather see little kids dressed like little kids. The sparkly, Las Vegas Showgirl styles for 7 year olds don't appeal to me. Check out the infants' and kids' patterns from Anny Blatt and Bouton d'Or and you'll see what I mean.

The best thing about them is that they're not only timeless, they're made with a really high quality fiber, so they're going to last and can be handed from child to child to child. (Maybe with our worsening economy the idea of quality, timeless children's clothes that can be handed down for a couple of generations will catch on.)

Our next stop on the Anny Blatt Tour de France was the factory in Avignon. More to come on that in another posting.

Visit to TexWorld in Paris

TexWorld took place in Paris from September 22 to September 25 and Alex and I had the pleasure of going there to see all the new styles and colors for the Winter 2009/2010 Season.

Let me start out by saying that I love Paris. I love the architecture. I love the food. I love the museums. I love the ambiance. And I even love the French people who are always so kind and accommodating as Alex and I butcher their language. (We can't understand why some people think they're arrogant when we've had nothing but wonderful experiences on our visits to France.)

We were really excited to have the opportunity to travel there to attend TexWorld and then to meet with many lovely people at Anny Blatt.

The conference itself was held at Le Bourget which is on the outskirts of Paris. We had our plans all figured out -- take that train to the Le Bourget station, catch a shuttle bus, and we'd have no problem getting to the trade show. Imagine our surprise when our train stopped a few stations earlier and we were asked to get out because it was not going any further. A "disturbance" had forced the cancellation of trains to our station.

Now, if you live in France you know that these disturbances happen all the time. I was once working at an office there (in my previous corporate life) when the city came to a standstill because farmers were staging a protest and shut down the streets. This is pretty common, and it doesn't faze the French at all. They improvise. But we very perplexed about what we'd do next in order to reach our destination.

Much to our relief, we soon saw was a young lady holding up a big sign that said, "TexWorld" so we approached her. She pointed us up an escalator when another young lady holding a sign pointed us toward yet another sign. Sure enough, they had people directing us toward buses awaiting confused TexWorld attendees. That bus took us right to the door of the conference. Alex and I were impressed with how quickly the TexWorld folks had responded to what must have been an early morning crisis for them.

Anyway, we got to TexWorld and were astounded by the enormity of the show. I mean, this was massive...and perhaps even larger than the shows in Florence. There were companies from all over the world proudly displaying their fabrics and fibers and I was almost overwhelmed with the desire to start grabbing the stuff and shoving it into my bag. These were fashion items you wouldn't even see for another year, and they were gorgeous!

After taking a couple of shots we learned that cameras were not permitted on the floor -- except by the media -- so I'll have to be sure to register myself as journalist for Shear Bagatelle next year.

We were amazed by the heavy representation of companies from China, Pakistan, India and many of the Eastern European countries. I'm afraid we didn't see any manufacturers from the US or Canada, which was disappointing, but there were a lot of people who'd traveled from North America to see the show.

We spent quite a while looking at the booths, gathering brochures, examining the colors (black and purple again, ladies) and lusting after all the fashions on display. The mills have become so sophisticated that there's really no limit to the variety and complexity of the products they produce.

It was a fascinating experience and we're really delighted that we had the opportunity to attend. Now we can start planning for 2009/2010 Winter Season with a better idea of what our knitters are going to want to make and which yarns we ought to make sure we're offering.

Oh, yeah...to reduce costs (because we're well traveled but cheap) we rented an apartment rather than stay at a hotel. That way, we could make some of our own meals, too. Well, we went out and bought some ham from a butcher, cheese from a cheese shop and bread from a boulangerie and for the first three days all we ate were ham sandwiches. I swear, they were so delicious that we didn't want anything else! There's something about the food there. Maybe it's fresher and not filled with preservatives. Of course, we did go to Alex's favorite place for lunch: Les Deux Magots. It's where philosophers like Sartre used to hang out. I had a cup of hot chocolate there that is quite possibly is the best hot chocolate on the planet.

Alex took the shot of the Eiffel Tower at the top of this posting. It was blue to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the EU. Every hour, on the hour, it bursts into a zillion sparkling lights, much to the delight of tourists who stand in awe of such a beautiful sight.

If you're like me and you're probably only going to get one life on this planet, don't you wish you could live that one life in Paris? Yeah...me, too.

September 16 Yarnmarket Bulletin

Jan has just released our September Bulletin. If you'd like to get onto our mail list, just fill out the subscription information.

Welcome to the September 2008 issue of the Yarnmarket Bulletin featuring new yarns from Noro, Filatura Di Crosa & the S. Charles Collezione plus new colors from Crystal Palace, Filatura & Rowan. In addition to wonderful new yarns & colors, we have fantastic ideas to help you and your favorite relatives & friends keep up with the trends of chunky knits & great colors for the fall & winter. And as always, we have added the new projects you crave to give your wardrobe extra pizzazz plus terrific new books, kits & tools to inspire you. So relax & enjoy this quick overview of what we've added to the store since you received your copy of the September newsletter at the beginning of the month:

New Yarns & Colors from Filatura Di Crosa, S. Charles, Noro, Crystal Palace & Rowan


This month we've added fabulous new yarn options you'll want to experience first hand. From Filatura Di Crosa we have two new additions to share with you. First, when you add supersoft alpaca to sensational wool with just a touch of acrylic, the result is velvety Aliseo. And not only is this worsted-weight beauty so, so soft, it's dyed to create a subtle striping effect with tonal color shifts in solids & heathered tweeds.

Then just imagine what you get when you mix wool, cashmere & angora with a bit of acrylic and nylon -- sensationally trendy Balu. Available in both neutral hues & funky animal prints, "Balu" is a terrific yarn when knitted or crocheted by itself in superb hats, scarves & more. Also great when used as a faux-fur trim for cuffs, collars & more. Then for ideas to use both of these new yarns check out the Filatura Di Crosa: Fall/Winter 2008 Collection, which includes 27 patterns for fall & winter.

Next, when you crave extra softness with your wool plus added strength & durability, explore the supple lines of Karma from the S. Charles Collezione. With a lovely addition of angora & nylon to this wool blend, "Karma" gives you sensational loft & an airy halo effect. Constructed as a fabulous woven chainette, this yarn has a great stitch definition & drape in all your quick-to-create, chunky knitting & crochet projects and is featured in several of the 18 designs included in the new S. Charles: Fall/Winter 2008 booklet.

Then Noro's amazing Maiko is a luxurious blend of 35% silk, 25% wool and 30% kid mohair. Soft to the touch, Noro's "Maiko" knits up into easy-to-wear garments that look as great as they feel. Available in a bright palette of solid shades with a hint of tweedy highlights, this is a great addition to the Noro collection and continues the Yarnmarket commitment to carry every Noro yarn available in the U.S. And of course, we have in stock the pattern support you'll need once you fall in love with this yarn. Check out Jane Ellison's Noro Family for great project ideas too.

We've also received a variety of new colors in many of your favorite lines including:
• Almost double the color choices now in Yarnmarket's own Caledon Hills popular Worsted Wool yarn with 33 fantastic new shades recently added;
• From Crystal Palace, check out the new options in Kaya (121 & 128), Fjord Solid (4045), Fjord Print (0450 & 0453), Taos (21, 22, 23 & 24) & Panda Cotton Print (460, 461, 462 & 463);
• Then discover the newbies from Filatura Di Crosa in New Smoking (12, 13 & 14) & Zara Plus (405, 408 & 409);
• Plus take a peek at all the new hues in Rowan's Felted Tweed (170, 172, 166, 168, 165, 162, 171, 164 & 167).

Keep Up with Fashion Trends by Adding Chunky Knits & Fab Colors to Your Wardrobe

As we mentioned in the September newsletter several weeks ago, we're all checking out the fall fashion trends & showcasing those ever-popular chunky knits along with added color to your wardrobe. Because of this resurgence of chunky knitwear & bright colors, we've added sensational new choices to the Women's Vests, Ponchos & Coats, Women's Pullovers, Shawls, Stoles & Wraps & Women's Cardigans departments. As usual, we've included more Baby & Kid's Stuff too, so this month check out our hot staff picks to add color, panache & comfort to your life:

• First off, we love the updated classics from Rowan knitwear designer Sarah Hatton, and she shows her exquisite fashion sense in the Colourscape Glow Pullover. Taking lovely advantage of Kaffe Fassett's spectacular, self-striping Colourscape Chunky yarn, this pullover goes from a simple mock turtleneck to a trendy addition to your fall & winter wardrobe.

• Another great example of chunky knitwear is the marvelous Faux Fur Vest from Filatura Di Crosa designer Rosemary Drysdale. With the main body in chunky, furry Balu accented by trim in soft Aliseo, this straight-line vest is great worn with slacks, jeans & even a casual skirt. Also check out the sensational ribbed accents at the hem & collar plus the innovative front placket with toggle buttons.

• Then that special little girl in your life will enjoy keeping with the latest fashions too, and we've added several fun children's projects featuring the chunky, chenille wonder Plush by Berroco. One of our new faves -- the Plush Patsy Hooded Poncho -- will keep her in style & comfy with its faux fur look. Then the Plush Jo Jumper has great trim & use of buttons for a terrific layering option year round. Also the Plush Hooded Baby Jacket has those trendy toggle buttons plus it's a quick knit & a great gift idea. And remember -- you can also make any of these little project gems in variegated Plush Colors instead of solid-hued "Plush" as shown.

• Last but certainly not least comes a fabulous sock project from Noro designer Jane Ellison. Maiko Hepworth Socks provide a basic sock pattern transformed by soft Maiko yarn from Noro. Also the stripes & color accents for the toe, heel & cuff are very effective plus the added length gives you more style versatility. Wear with turned down cuffs & that wonderful slouchy, casual look as shown or stretch them to their full length & have almost knee-highs.

Enjoy New Tools, Scarf Kits & Circular Needles Now in Stock for Knitters & Crocheters

Lantern Moon Blonde Destiny Circular Needles


This month we've received new goodies for our Tools & Accessories, Kits & Needles areas. First off, now you can continue your favorite craft in low light or even in the dark with the Knit Light clipped on your shirt, blouse, pocket, collar or placket. And you won't disturb others with this bright white light that highlights a small area that's large enough to see your needles or hook plus the work in progress. Also includes a carrying case, adjustable, flexible neck, & magnetic base to mount unit on metal surface. Even has a red laser pointer that can be used in presentations. Great gift idea for knitters & crocheters. Available in two colors -- blue or red base for the light. Also comes with three batteries, but for back-ups, check out the Knit Light Replacement Batteries.

Then the Lantern Moon Blonde Destiny Circular Needles are made from the same Vietnamese hardwood highly prized for its straight grain as are their lovely straight knitting needles. The wood is a beautiful, light blonde color and extremely hard & durable but very light and warm to handle. All of these handcrafted needles have a brass connection that's machined, honed & polished with the needles to create a virtually seamless connection and that swivels at the base of the needles to avoid kinks. Also the nylon cord uncoils easily, stays relaxed & is tinted for improved visibility.

One more new item -- from Artyarns take a look at the stunning Kaleidoscope Cashmere Crochet Scarf Kit. Using luxurious, laceweight "Cashmere 1" yarn, Artyarns designer Sharon Sorken has created this lovely crocheted scarf kit. Building on the ever-popular retro look of granny squares, Sharon has designed this terrific collection of interconnecting granny "circles" in a superb range of 11 contrasting solid hues. Available in two colorways: Jewels or Pastels as shown.


Our expansive Books and Patterns department is the place to check when you're looking for inspiration to choose your next project. This month we've added new books we know you won't want to miss. To begin, you'll want to check out Bouton d'Or Layette & Enfant #18. To support this wonderful collection of 64 patterns for babies and children, we've added yarns to our Anny Blatt and Bouton d'Or collections to showcase selected projects from the book. Currently we are carrying only the featured colors from each new yarn, but all the colors are available by special order with no minimum number of balls required. Right now we have 8 of the 64 projects highlighted with more to come soon.

Then take a look at Debbie Bliss: Essential Knits for Kids. Offering 20 adorable new patterns for children ages 2-5 years old, all are created with beautiful Debbie Bliss yarn such as Baby Cashmerino and Rialto Aran. Patterns include tops, pullovers, a blanket, a doll and much more.

Never Not Knitting -2009 Desk Calendar
Plus here's a selection of other new books we've received the past few weeks:
• Find a collection of 15 patterns for Tahki's fall & winter tweed yarns in Tahki: Tweed Collection 2nd Ed.;
• Never Not Knitting - 2009 Desk Calendar features 365 days of wit and wisdom from the self-proclaimed "Yarn Harlot," Stephanie Pearl-McPhee;
• Skein for Skein includes 16 knitted projects with dos and don'ts of yarn substitution;
• You'll find everything you need to know to begin felting including several projects to get you started in Start to Felt;
• Tag, You're Knit includes 26 colorful knitted accessories kids will love;
• Learn to knit with the more than 30 cool, easy patterns found in Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting;
• Custom Knits, a unique and fascinating book, provides a wealth of information on rose-pattern knitting in Iceland plus a feast of ideas on how to apply traditional Icelandic techniques to colorful, contemporary designs;
• Lace Knitting to Go includes 25 hip and modern pattern designs on cards perfect for throwing into your knitting bag; and
• Beyond the Square: Crochet Motifs offers 144 circles, hexagons, triangles, squares and other unexpected shapes to use in your designs.

Always New Arrivals to Come Plus Great Projects Even Better the Second Time Around

As usually happens when we're finishing up the bulletin each month, our Receiving Manager has given us a preview of all the new products she's heard will be arriving soon. We've just learned that within the next few weeks we'll be enhancing our yarn collection with new yarns & colors from some of your favorite yarn companies such as Rowan, Gedifra, South West, Debbie Bliss and Artyarns. We'll also be adding two new yarn companies in the upcoming month, so keep watching the "What's New" column on the Home Page for all the latest releases.

And we do appreciate how much you've been enjoying our showcase of outstanding projects from past fall seasons, so as you've requested, we're again featuring in this issue popular projects we recommend for a second look. They've remained popular since being introduced, but with well over 2000 Project Ideas now available at Yarnmarket, we understand the challenge of finding the best options for you & your favorite friends & relatives. So check out the four we're featuring this issue for women & precious wee ones:

• To start us off with those bright colors for fall, we have the Silk Garden Lite V-Neck Vest. Designed exclusively for Silk Garden Lite by Noro, this pullover sweater vest with the deep V neckline is a sensational layering option all fall, winter & spring. Just select your favorite color combo in self-striping "Silk Garden Lite," and you can get started on this lovely right away! A great project for Intermediate knitters looking for different kinds of stitches to learn.

• Then another marvelous sweater project for your fall pullover collection is the innovative Jane's Pearls Pullover from Twisted Sisters. This little number gives you the quintessential sweater girl look of the 1940s & '50s in a soft, romantic pullover. It superbly combines the textures & hues of their Zazu & Lust yarns. Then with its knitted-on beads at the neck & sleeve bands, you have the perfect finishing touches to set off the contoured, feminine shaping.

• Of course, you can also add sensational pizzazz & color to your wardrobe with one of the luscious, large handbags now on the scene, and we recommend the oh-so-spectacular Zoom Felted Peruvia Bag from Berroco. Using an animal-print design, you can craft this superb bag from your favorite three colors of terrifically feltable Peruvia and have your own little "pet" in no time. (Is the one shown a zebra? Or the rare white tiger?) Also makes a sensational gift for your special friends & family members.

• And since we know how much you enjoy creating outfits for the babies & children in your life, we have lots of project ideas in our Baby & Kid's Stuff department too with over 400 projects available now. Baby blankets remain popular baby gifts, so just imagine your favorite little one cuddled up in the adorable Fleece Rubber Ducky Blanket from Knit One, Crochet Too. Themed to go with the traditional "rubber ducky" at bath time, we bet this design becomes your precious child's best blankie for carrying around the house too.

Stay Current with the Latest Yarnmarket Sales Available at BargainYARNS.com

As we've been reminding you lately, our Yarnmarket sale website -- BargainYARNS -- is definitely the website to check for terrific deals especially on yarn, books, needles & accessories. From sensational Yarn Bargains available at up to 50% off the suggested retail price to Imperfect Books at significant price reductions, BargainYARNS is the place to get the sales & discounts you crave. But remember -- all items listed today on BargainYARNS are available in limited quantities as discontinued items, as mill ends or as special offers, so when you see something you like, buy it immediately and in sufficient quantity for your project because it could be sold out later the same day.

Now even though we know you like to browse for yourself, here are our staff recommendations for September:

• First, take a look at the new additions from Crystal Palace -- Meringue Solid & Meringue Print. A wonderful combination of hand-dyed thick & thin yarn encircled by two criss-crossing metallic threads, this wool blend is available in a fabulous array of colors. Plus print out the free Meringue Baby Blanket to get you started with this great yarn.

• Next you won't want to miss out on Cherry Tree Hill's beautiful Jumbo Loop Mohair. A beautifully hand-painted, 100% mohair boucle yarn from Cherry Tree Hill, "Jumbo Loop Mohair" comes in a generous hank with 185 yards and a vast array of color combos. And check out the Jumbo Loop Mohair Throw. Knit on the diagonal using the seed stitch, this thick throw is recommended for the beginner and beyond. Measuring approximately 46"x56" (excluding fringe), you need 4 hanks of Cherry Tree Hill's lovely hand-dyed "Jumbo Loop Mohair" to complete the project.

• Finally, be sure to take advantage of the incredible price reductions on Malva from Filatura Di Crosa now that it's moved from Yarnmarket to BargainYARNS. Constructed of a super lightweight netting threaded through with single strands of variegated color, "Malva" is sure to become your favorite supersoft, lightweight ribbon option.

And as always, Happy Knitting!
Your Yarnmarket Knitting Store Staff